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| Jo-Jo Reyes allowed two runs on five hits, walked two and struck out five in eight innings and the Braves defeated the Angels 5-2 on Friday night. |
Our View: The left-hander retired 14 of his last 16 batters after the Angels took a 2-1 lead on Howie Kendrick's two-out RBI double in the third.
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| The Mets bolstered their outfield on Friday night by acquiring Trot Nixon from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona gets cash or a player to be named in the deal. |
Our View: Nixon was tearing it up at Triple-A Tuscon hitting .309 with 10 homers and 31 RBI in 58 games. With Moises Alou and Ryan Church on the disabled list, Nixon could find at-bats in right field for the Mets, and soon.
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| Chipper Jones, who leads the majors with a .414 average, was scratched from the starting lineup after a suffering an accident during batting practice. He fouled off a pitch, and the ball ricocheted off the crossbar at the top of the batting cage and struck him just under his left eye.
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Our View: Jones suffered a contusion and was taken for a CT scan which was negative. The team is listing him as day-to-day.
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| Chone Figgins, who missed 33 of the Angels' previous 34 games because of an injured right hamstring, went 1-for-2 with two walks in his first game back from his second stint on the disabled list. |
Our View: Figgins lead off and played third base in his return to the starting lineup.
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| Orlando Cabrera hit a solo shot helping the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. |
Our View: The home run was his only hit on the night and lifted his RBI total to 23 and runs scored to 39.
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| Jeff Francis allowed four runs on four hits, walked three but failed to strike out a White Sox hitter in Friday's no-decision. |
Our View: Francis only allowed four hits, but he didn't have his best stuff which is evident by his lack of strike outs. Coming into the game the left-hander had struck out 60 in 77.2 innings of work, a 6.95 K Rate.
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| The Rockies Ian Stewart hit two solo home runs and Willy Tavares and Brad Hawpe added solo shots, the only hits Chicago's Gavin Floyd allowed in 6 1/3 innings of his no-decision on Friday night. |
Our View: Floyd allowed more than one homer in a game this season for the first time. He Last gave up four homers in a game Sept. 7 against the Twins.
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| Todd Wellemeyer got two easy outs to start the game, but then ran into the bats of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell who hit back-to-back-to-back home runs and the rout was on. The three consecutive home runs was the seventh time in franchise history, and the first time since May 18, 2004, against the Dodgers when Bobby Abreu, Burrell and Jim Thome connected in succession. Wellemeyer allowed eight runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out three in 3.1 innings of work. |
Our View: According to Rototimes sources Wellemeyer's velocity was down. The right-hander didn't top 92 mph on his fastball, some three ticks under his norm. The Cards right-hander missed his last start after experiencing inflammation in his right shoulder, and after tonight he's likely wishing he would have missed a second.
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| Skip Schumaker went 3-for-5 with a home run in the Friday night drubbing 20-2 drubbing at the hands of the Phillies. |
Our View: Schumaker raised his average over the .300 mark the home run was his third of the season.
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| Kyle Kendrick pitched seven strong innings and contributed two hits and an RBI and the Phillies had a season-high 21 hits in a 20-2 victory over the Cardinals on Friday night. The right-hander allowed two runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out one for his sixth win of the season. |
Our View: Kendrick lowered his ERA to 4.54 -- and while it wasn't pretty at times -- the second-year starter had such a big lead he was simply pitching to contact and letting his defense do the rest.
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| Ryan Howard went 3-for-5 and hit his 16th home run off Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer, a game that saw the Philadelphia rout St. Louis 20-2 on Friday night. |
Our View: Howard added a three-run shot in the sixth off Mark Worrell for his 14th career multihomer game, the second this season.
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| Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell hit consecutive home runs in the first inning, and the Phillies went on to win a 20-2 marathon contest over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. |
Our View: Utley hit his major league-leading 22nd homer in a game that was Cardinal-ugly from the first-to-the-ninth inning. Utley went 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBI and a walk.
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| Joba Chamberlain allowed one run on six hits, walked four and struck out two in a no-decision on Friday night. |
Our View: Chamberlain threw 88 pitches -- 54 for strikes -- as he continues to build his pitch count as a starter.
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| Derek Jeter hit a solo homer in the eighth inning off Astros setup man Doug Brocail and the New York Yankees defeated Houston 2-1 on Friday night.
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Our View: Jeter is finally over the hand injury that put him in a semi-slump in May. The All Star shortstop is hitting .271 on the season, a number that should rise as the Yankees visit some hitter-friendly ballparks in the next three weeks.
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| Scott Feldman allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits as the Rangers dropped to 1-8 in the right-hander's starts. |
Our View: The Rangers, owners of the the worst pitching staff in the American League, are desperate. The fact that Feldman hasn't scored a victory since May 9 and the team has only one win in his nine starts isn't expected to threaten his spot in the rotation.
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| Josh Hamilton went 2-for-4 and hit his 18th home run in the 7-1 loss to the Mets on Friday night. |
Our View: Hamilton raised his league leading RBI total to 72.
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| Oliver Perez pitched seven strong innings and the New York Mets beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Friday night at Shea. Perez also helped his cause by driving in two runs. Perez allowed one run on three hits, walked three and struck out eight. |
Our View: The southpaw has his best stuff in game one of a three-game series against the hard-hitting Rangers. Josh Hamilton lined an 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall with two out in the first, and then Perez didn't allow another hit until Texas starting pitcher Scott Feldman recorded his first career hit in the sixth.
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| George Sherrill earned his 22nd save of the season in Friday's 9-6 win over the Pirates. The left-hander pitched a perfect ninth inning. |
Our View: Sherrill's 22 saves is second to K-Rod of the Angels who has 27.
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| Brian Burres improved his record to 5-5 on the season as the Orioles beat the Pirates 9-6 on Friday night. The left-hander allowed six runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out four in the win. |
Our View: The southpaw bounced back with six innings of work after failing to reach the sixth inning in his three previous starts.
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| Luke Scott rewarded skipper Dave Trembley who told the Baltimore Sun on Thursday that his outfielder would get more playing time. Scott continued his recent tear hitting his 11th home run of the season. |
Our View: Scott scored twice (29) and recorded his 26th RBI of the year.
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| Derek Lowe suffered his sixth loss of the season on Friday night as the Dodgers fell 5-0 to the Detroit Tigers. The sinkerballer gave up three runs, two earned, on eight hits in seven innings. |
Our View: Lowe is pitching about as good as he can. He didn't walk a batter, struck out five and received very little defensive support in the loss. Two of the eight hits, home runs, didn't help his cause.
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| Armando Galarraga and releiver Freddy Dolsi combined for a three-hitter and the Detroit Tigers scored a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The right-hander allowed three hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out five. |
Our View: Galarraga won his sixth against two losses and continues to prove he deserves to be in the Tigers rotation.
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| Matt Stairs hit his eighth home run of the season helping A.J. Burnett win for the first time in four starts as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cubs 3-2 on Friday night.
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Our View: Stairs drove in two of the Jays three runs and now has 25 RBI on the season.
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| Alex Rios went 3-for-4 with two doubles and Toronto won for just the fourth time in their last 12 games beating the Cubs 3-2 on Friday night. |
Our View: Rios raised his average seven points (.275) in the effort and now has 16 two-base hits on the season.
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| Sean Gallagher allowed three runs and seven hits in five-plus innings, but it wasn't good enough as A.J. Burnett and the Blue Jays won the first game of the three-game interleague series. The rookie walked two and struck out five as the Cubs lost for the first time in five games. |
Our View: Gallagher wasn't as sharp as he's been in recent starts and it was evident in his GB:FB ratio (1:9) in the loss.
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| Jeremy Accardo (forearm) will take two days off after suffering a setback in his rehabilitation assignment on Friday, this according to the AP. |
Our View: Accardo was close to returning from the disabled list. How far this will push his return back is not yet known.
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| A.J. Burnett improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Cubs, allowing two runs and four hits just falling short of a quality start. He walked four and struck out seven in five innings plus. |
Our View: Burnett rebounded from his a poor effort after stringing together nearly a month of quality starts. His ERA now rests at 4.90 and and K Rate is approaching nine.
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| Scott Rolen went deep for the third time this year and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cubs 3-2 on Friday night. |
Our View: Rolen is beginning to drive the ball, and as the air warms the third baseman should power up.
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| Rookie Justin Masterson pitched good enough to win but Aaron Harang was better. The Red Sox right-hander allowed three runs on four hits and struck out a career-high nine in 6 2/3 innings. |
Our View: The effort, his first career start on the road was outstanding, especially against a good lineup in hitter-friendly Great American Park.
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| Adam Dunn hit a solo home run on Friday night and the Reds beat the Red Sox 3-1 in interleague play. |
Our View: Dunn launched his 17th home run of the season and continues his hot late May and early June. The big left fielder is hitting a home run every 12 times at bat.
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| Jay Bruce hit a solo home run on Friday night helping the Reds to a 3-1 interleague victory over the Red Sox. |
Our View: The home run was Bruce's fourth in 68 at-bats.
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| Aaron Harang bounced back from a long stretch of poor starts and won his first game since May 12. The right-hander was coming off his worst performance of the season were he gave up eight runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 9-2 loss in Florida on Sunday. Harrang allowed one run on four hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out seven Red Sox over seven innings. |
Our View: Harang lowered his ERA to 4.10 and won his third game against nine losses.
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| Following up on an earlier report, the X-rays on Michael Cuddyer's hand were negative. He played in the field for one inning before leaving and was replaced by Delmon Young. |
Our View: Cuddyer is considered day-to-day.
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| According to the team website Albert Pujols said he will be back in the Cardinals' lineup in two weeks.
Pujols strained his left calf while running to first base against the Reds on Tuesday. |
Our View: Initially, team doctors said Pujols would miss at least three weeks, but he is staying optimistic he can come off the disabled list as soon as possible.
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| Wily Mo Pena will serve as the Nationals designated hitter in game one of the three-game series in Seattle this weekend. |
Our View: Pena is expected to get additional playing time in the two road series against American League Seattle and Minnesota.
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| Alberto Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton on Friday and reserve first baseman Shelly Duncan was optioned to the clubs top affiliate. |
Our View: Gonzalez' versatility will be needed as the Yankees head out for 16 straight games against National League teams.
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| The Yankees team website reports that with the team heading out for 16 consecutive games against the National League, they have optioned Shelley Duncan to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Infielder Alberto Gonzalez was promoted to fill out the 25-man roster.
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Our View: Duncan had not played in the past seven games, and his last start came on May 30 at Minnesota. The team wants Duncan playing everyday, something he can't receive with the big club.
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| Billy Buckner was recalled from Triple-A Tuscon on Friday and Max Scherzer was optioned to the team top affiliate. |
Our View: Buckner started 14 games for the Sidewinders, going 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA. His fantasy value rests in deep NL-only formats that reward holds.
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| The Diamondbacks optioned rookie right-hander Max Scherzer to Triple-A Tucson on Friday.
The D-backs finished their road trip in New York by playing two consecutive extra-innings affairs where they were forced to use eight pitchers for 12 innings, and according to the team website, manager Bob Melvin wanted to bring up some fresh arms. He also make it clear that Scherzer's demotion had nothing to do with his performance during his first Major League stint. |
Our View: There were huge FAAB dollars spent on Max after his perfect relief appearance against the Astros and the announcement he would enter the Arizona rotation in May. But after Doug Davis returned to the rotation and Scherzer was sent to the bullpen, the big dollars spent on the D'backs right-hander doesn't appear to be money well spent.
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| Chone Figgins, who was activated from the disabled list today, is in the starting lineup tonight when the Angels host the Atlanta Braves. |
Our View: Figgins was 2-for-10 during his rehab assignment and should be safe to activate for Fantasy Week 12.
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| Miguel Olivo continues to receive at-bats, even in National League parks where the designated hitter isn't used. Olivo is starting at catcher and will square off against Diamondbacks starter Doug Davis. |
Our View: Olivo is 2-8 against Davis. At-bats he received while playing for the Florida Marlins.
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| Esteban German is slated to lead off and play left field in tonight's interleague contest against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The everyday left fielder, David DeJesus, is on the bench. |
Our View: With southpaw Doug Davis on the mound left-handed hitting DeJesus will be available to pinch hit.
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| Michael Cuddyer was removed from Friday night's interleague game in Milwaukee after being hit in the hand by a Dave Bush pitch. |
Our View: We will update you on the severity of the injury when the information becomes available.
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| Hank Blalock has resumed hitting, according to the team website, and is hoping to be activated next Friday from the disabled list. The Rangers open a three-game series with the Nationals at New RFK Stadium.
Blalock took two rounds of batting practice on Friday afternoon, the first time he has done so since undergoing surgery at the end of May on his right wrist. |
Our View: Blalock has been waiting for a cut on right hand to heal before he aggressively started swinging the bat.
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| According to the Rangers team website the staff is discussing the possibility of placing pitcher Joaquin Benoit on the disabled list. The hard-throwing right-hander is experiencing soreness in his right shoulder.
The Rangers will have to make a move on Saturday because they plan on calling up Kason Gabbard to start against the Mets. |
Our View: The team will move Doug Mathis to the bullpen and according to the report the logical move would be to drop middle reliever Robinson Tejeda.
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| Jason Schmidt has apparently suffered a setback in his rehab from right shoulder surgery, this according to the team website.
Manager Joe Torre said Schmidt's Minor League rehabilitation assignment will not be resumed next week as previously announced, and that trainer Stan Conte told him the club will continue to go slow with Schmidt. The report noted that the right-hander is experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired shoulder. |
Our View: Schmidt's career likely won't be anything near what it was in San Francisco. The 35-year old underwent career-threatening shoulder surgery 51 weeks ago and his rehab hasn't progressed as the Dodgers, or Schmidt's fantasy owners had hoped.
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| Luis Castillo is back in the starting lineup on Friday night against the Texas Rangers in the second set of interleague games. |
Our View: Castillo was given Thursday afternoon off in the loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Dan Haren.
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| Jake Peavy didn't complain of any soreness after needing only 72 pitches to get through his six innings against the Dodgers on Thursday night, this according to the team website. The Cy Young winner struck out four and didn't walk a batter in his first start since May 14. |
Our View:
Peavy (5-3, 2.64) will make his next start on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, meaning he will get the benefit of an extra day of rest with the Padres' off-day Monday.
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| Bill Hall is getting another start at second base in Friday's first game of a three-game series against the American League Twins. Hall is hitting seventh in the batting order. |
Our View: Hall hasn't been effective against right-handed pitching but he's in the lineup against Minnesota's Kevin Slowey.
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| The Oakland Athletics activated Ryan Sweeney (toe) from the 15-day disabled list on Friday. |
Our View: The outfielder is expected to start in tonight's interleague game against Bay rival San Francisco.
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| Johnny Damon is not in the starting lineup tonight as the Yankees visit the Astros in the second turn of interleague play. Jason Giambi is starting at first base and Hideki Matsui is in left field. |
Our View: Damon is hitting .320 on the season and is 1-for-5 lifetime against Astros right-handed starter Shawn Chacon. There is no obvious reason why Johnny is sitting.
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| Surprisingly Mike Lamb is starting at third base as the Twins play an interleague game in Milwaukee. Lamb is 0-for-10 against Brewers starting pitcher Dave Bush. |
Our View: This speaks volumes about the limited bench the Twins have, and why they are at the bottom of the league in runs scored and extra base hits.
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| Derrek Lee is serving as the Cubs designated hitter in tonight's interleague game against the Toronto Blue Jays. |
Our View: Micah Hoffpauir is getting the start at first base. This gives the Cubs another left-handed bat in the lineup against hard-throwing A.J. Burnett.
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| Luis Gonzalez is serving as the Marlins designated hitter today in their interleague game against intrastate rival, the Tampa Bay Rays. |
Our View: The veteran doesn't move as well as he used to in the outfield, but he can still hit. Gonzo is batting .275 with five home runs, 25 RBI and 18 runs scored in 182 at-bats.
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| Eric Hinske is starting in left field for Carl Crawford who began serving his four-game suspension today. |
Our View: Hinske is in left, Gabe Gross is in right and Cliff Floyd is serving as the designated hitter.
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| Chris Shelton is starting at first base for the Rangers tonight in an interleague game against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Shelton starts and Frank Catalanotto will be available to pinch hit. |
Our View: With no designated hitter, left-handed hitters Brandon Boggs and Frank Catalanotto will sit against Mets' starter and southpaw Oliver Perez.
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| Cory Sullivan was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday. The outfielder has been with the big club since May 25. |
Our View: The Roks have Holliday and others back since Sullivan was recalled. He will work with his teammates at Colorado's top affiliate until his services are needed again.
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| The Colorado Rockies activated Jason Hirsh (shoulder) from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday. |
Our View: Hirsh will work with the team's top affiliate for now, but he's expected to return to the Rockies rotation as soon as next week.
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| The AP reports that center fielder Rocco Baldelli will meet with Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon and executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman during the current homestand and discuss his rehab schedule.
Baldelli, who is currently on the 60-day DL, resumed playing last month as a designated hitter for the Rays' extended spring training team. He told the AP that he hopes to join one of the Rays' minor league teams shortly, and expects to play again in the majors later this year.
"I fully plan on being back. That's the way I feel right now," Baldelli said. |
Our View: Baldelli has been sidelined since May 2007 because of lingering hamstring problems and what doctors have told him and the Rays is a mitochondrial disorder that causes extreme fatigue.
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| The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated closer Troy Percival from the 15-day disabled list on Friday, this according to the AP. The closer will take the roster spot of reliever Al Reyes who was placed on disabled list today.
Percival strained his left hamstring in the Rays' 5-3 victory over Texas on May 28 and went on the DL one day later. |
Our View: He is 1-0 with 14 saves in 16 chances and a 2.95 ERA in 22 games this season and will resume his closing duties effective tonight.
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| The A's optioned outfielder Travis Buck to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.
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Our View: Carlos Gonzalez will stick and play right field moving forward. There is no reason to keep the rookie with the parent club unless he's going to play everyday.
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| Brian Lawrence made his debut with the Richmond Braves on Thursday, this according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Lawrence allowed three runs on six hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. |
Our View: After a rough two-run first inning, he retired 13 of the next 15 hitters. Given the state of affairs for the Braves pitching staff, Lawrence is on his way to the bigs for another go-around.
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| With Atlanta's bullpen performing poorly the Richmond Times-Dispatch suggests it could mean a quicker return for reliever Mike Gonzalez . The left-hander, coming back from ligament transplant surgery in his elbow, has pitched two rehab assignments that have been impressive.
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Our View: Gonzalez allowed one hit and one walk -- and produced a key strikeout -- in one inning last night. With Raphael Soriano's elbow not right, and John Smoltz out for the season, Gonzalez could be on a fast track to the closer role in Atlanta. Owners with bench space might want to gamble on the onetime closer and play the "wait and see" game.
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| The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the Braves picked up some bullpen insurance by signing former Baltimore and Cleveland reliever Jorge Julio on Friday. The team assigning him to Triple-A Richmond and he is scheduled to join the R-Braves today. |
Our View: Julio was released by Cleveland 11 days ago (0-0, 5.60 ERA). Julio had 83 saves with the Orioles from 2002-04.
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| Catcher Jason Varitek, suffering from a case of strep throat, won't start tonight but will serve as the emergency catcher backing up Kevin Cash, notes the Providence Journal. Varitek isn't expected to start before Sunday, at the earliest.
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Our View: As usual, Cash will catch Tim Wakefield who starts on Saturday, so Varitek won't return to the starting lineup until Sunday, if then.
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| Curt Schilling threw in the bullpen before torrential rains soaked Great American Ballpark this afternoon. The Providence Journal reported that the work "wasn't much to write home about."
The usually vocal pitcher didn't want to discuss it as he grabbed a pen and began to work on a newspaper crossword puzzle, noted the report.
"Not now," said Schilling. |
Our View: Schilling didn't experience any pain in a throwing session on Tuesday, but wasn't pleased with his command. Manager Terry Francona told the Journal on Wednesday "The good news is he's ramping it up." Schilling is rehabbing from right biceps degeneration.
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| Kevin Youkilis told the Providence Journal on Friday that he was disappointed at not having been drafted by his hometown Cincinnati Reds.
The Red Sox selected him in the eighth round of the 2001 draft.
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Our View: In his first trip back to the town he grew up in and played college ball, the first baseman will have 138 family and friends in the stands for Saturday's game. Youkilis is not in the Friday night starting lienup.
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| Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to pitch in a minor league game next week, this according to Fox Sports. Dice-K is rehabbing from a sore shoulder. Matsuzaka threw on Friday before the start of Boston's series against the Cincinnati Reds, but it appears he will need one or two rehab starts. |
Our View: He's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list any time, but skipper Terry Francona said Matsuzaka will pitch on Monday for Triple-A Pawtucket against the Philadelphia Phillies' Lehigh Valley team in Allentown, Pa. Matsuzaka will throw about 80 pitches. A second rehab is possible but no timetable has been defined for the Red Sox No. 2 starter.
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| Newsday reports that Robinson Cancel has been recalled by the Mets and Moises Alou was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf. |
Our View: The move is not retroactive because Cancel was recalled within a 10 day period. This speaks volumes to the health of Alou, meaning he could be out for an extended period of time.
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| As reported earlier this week, Carl Crawford will begin serving his four-game suspension tonight when the Rays square up against the Marlins.
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Our View: Cliff Floyd will replace Crawford and receive an opportunity to get off the pine and breakout of his hitting stench.
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| Kevin Youkilis is not in the Red Sox starting lineup tonight. The Sox are facing Aaron Harrang and the Reds. With no designated hitter, Manny Ramirez is back in left field and Sean Casey starts at first base. |
Our View: Youkilis is having a terrific season and the Red Sox trip to the National League gives manager Terry Francona a reason to rest his versatile infielder. Youk is hitting .301 with 10 home | |
